Israeli Army Storms WHO Facilities, Detains Staff in Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that Israeli military forces stormed its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, during ongoing military operations against Hamas. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the staff residence was attacked multiple times, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot while male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated, and some detained, with one staff member still in custody. The main WHO warehouse suffered damage from an attack that caused explosions and a fire, severely impacting the delivery of medical supplies and crippling health operations in Gaza. Over 20 Western countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, have called for an immediate ceasefire, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis and urging the release of hostages and free flow of aid, a call endorsed by Egypt but condemned by Israeli officials. The Israeli military has intensified its ground offensive in Deir al-Balah, an area densely populated by displaced Palestinians, despite prior restraint due to suspected hostages, designating Al-Mawasi as a humanitarian zone, which has nonetheless been targeted. WHO has emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire to prevent the collapse of Gaza's health system and demanded the immediate release of detained staff members.